JANUARY 28, 2020 : NEW MANAGER By: Colaluca.associates
If I asked you to describe a leader, what comes to mind for you? Maybe you think of someone with a title, like Mayor, CEO, or Director. Maybe you think of someone who is confident and makes quick decisions. While there are many ideas of what leadership is and is not. Generally speaking, a leader is someone who rouses others to come together and act toward achieving a common goal. A leader can rally people around a cause and guides them to achieving an objective.
A leader inspires people to connect with something bigger than themselves; to work together, take bold action, and accomplish tasks that couldn’t be achieved without shared effort. A leader helps team members to become the best versions of themselves.
There 6 traits that dynamic leaders share and that you can develop of strengthen to up your leadership game.
Here are 6 high-level traits of dynamic leaders:
VISION. A dynamic leader has a clear vision of where they want to go and how they’re going to get there. They understand where they currently are and are crystal clear on what it’s going to take for them to get to where they want to be. The leader can paint a picture with words to communicate this vision clearly to his team.
Passion. Dynamic leaders know that people are looking for passion in their leaders. Passion is infectious and attracts people to your team. It’s the key to connecting others to a vision.
Empathy. A dynamic leader is able to recognize and respond to the emotions of others. This builds stronger and more substantial relationships with your team. Practicing empathy makes it easier to gain the support of those in your charge.
Decisiveness. The dynamic leader is highly skilled at making decisions. This is increasingly important in today’s quickly changing landscape that present dozens of choices on a multitude of topics. The ability to make sound, educated decisions on-the-go demonstrates surety and builds feelings of security among the team.
Service. The best leaders are those who serve others. They seek to serve their team and make their team as effective as possible. They support their team members in their individual growth and success rather than constantly focusing on their own agenda.
Optimism. The dynamic leader is the lighthouse in the storm. When a project goes awry, they look for ways to keep the team engaged and moving forward. They work to keep the team focused on the long-term vision and how great it will be when they get there, even when it’s tough going in the short-term.
None of these characteristics on their own makes for a leader. Dynamic leaders possess a combination of all these characteristics.
It’s important to understand that leadership isn’t about having a particular position, title, or personal attributes. Just because you’re an executive doesn’t mean you’re a leader. Having the corner office doesn’t mean you’re good at leadership. Having a charismatic personality doesn’t make you a leader.
Leadership is NOT something you’re born with. Rather, it’s something you learn over time through practice. And you can become a better leader than you currently are.
If you’re not an effective leader now, you can grow and become an effective leader. You can learn the skills and techniques necessary to become a dynamic leader.
By implementing these principles in your own life, you can become a powerful, passionate, inspirational leader. You can help others become the best version of themselves and achieve great things. You can lead them to accomplish your vision.
Terri Goldson 